Old Outlook won't work

I have had so many Outlook problems I'm embarrassed to ask about another one. I have been using Earthlink webmail while my Outlook is bad. It's not a great solution. In my Outlook I had built some scripts to send spam and other less important emails to places where I could attend to them as time permits.

My problems finally overcame my pride, so I'm asking once again. Here's what happened:

Overnight one night, Windows updated. When I got to the computer in the morning, it asked me if I wanted to use their gadget to store all my files in the cloud. Silly me, I said yes. My Outlook has never worked since.

Here are the options I can see:
1. Reinstall Outlook. I've done it so many times I can probably manage it.
2. Reinstall Windows 11, then reinstall Outlook.
3. Throw this otherwise reasonably good computer in the trash, then head to the local Best Buy to pick up a new Lenovo or whatever is cheap.

Please help!
Thanks!
Dave

Dave in Houston said:

...............................it asked me if I wanted to use their gadget to store all my files in the cloud. Silly me, I said yes. My Outlook has never worked since.

Click to expand...

What are the symptoms exactly?

It could be because your Outlook data files have been moved to the OneDrive folder and Outlook can no longer find them. But at this stage, I'm just guessing.

If you're prepared to take drastic action as you suggest then consider using Thunderbird and importing your outlook email in to it.
Take an image with your backup software first though, just in case....

Secret Squirrel said:

What are the symptoms exactly?

It could be because your Outlook data files have been moved to the OneDrive folder and Outlook can no longer find them. But at this stage, I'm just guessing.

Click to expand...

Did I say this already once?

The problem is that I can't receive or send new email. Old email is still there to view, and the calendar still works.

Secret Squirrel said:

What are the symptoms exactly?

It could be because your Outlook data files have been moved to the OneDrive folder and Outlook can no longer find them. But at this stage, I'm just guessing.

Click to expand...

That's been my guess, too. But I haven't seen able to figure out how to fix it.

Hey there, Dave, hows it been going mate?

So you do or don’t want to use OneDrive. If you don’t, I’d suggest you remove OneDrive, Dave.
I have never used it so I can’t advise. Maybe @glasskuter could point you to one of her instruction posts.
Backup your stuff first.

Remember when I connected remotely and we setup Outlook?
Outlook (PST) files are kept in Documents\Outlook Files\
If you want to continue to use OneDrive, I can connect again at some point and help you move the location of your PST files (if you are still using them)
Mine live on a secondary drive.

I can’t think of a reason OneDrive would affect Outlook. Possibly there is another issue.

Dave in Houston said:

it asked me if I wanted to use their gadget to store all my files in the cloud

Click to expand...

antspants said:

I can’t think of a reason OneDrive would affect Outlook. Possibly there is another issue.

Click to expand...

I am assuming you are using a MS account, correct?
Yes, if you unintentionally enabled Onedrive I can tell you how to stop syncing your personal files with onedrive if that is what you want.

Regarding Outlook, Onedrive's effect on Outlook depends on which version of Outlook you are using.
Is it the Outlook new app built into Windows what you use? Is it Outlook that is part of perpetual MSOffice. If so, what version of MSOffice?
Or is it Outlook that is part of Office 365 which is cloud-based?

It is also helpful to know if you set up your Earthlink email as pop or imap.

glasskuter said:

I am assuming you are using a MS account, correct?
Yes, if you unintentionally enabled Onedrive I can tell you how to stop syncing your personal files with onedrive if that is what you want.

Regarding Outlook, Onedrive's effect on Outlook depends on which version of Outlook you are using.
Is it the Outlook new app built into Windows what you use? Is it Outlook that is part of perpetual MSOffice. If so, what version of MSOffice?
Or is it Outlook that is part of Office 365 which is cloud-based?

It is also helpful to know if you set up your Earthlink email as pop or imap.

Click to expand...

From memory, it’s not a Microsoft Account, it’s a personal domain and it’s (or was) from Outlook in Microsoft 365. Dave can correct me because I don’t have access to the folder I made for Dave to store his setup settings, atm.

Onedrive is handy, unless it keeps me from running old-style Outlook with a PST file.

I get Outlook by going to Costco once every 15 months. If I pay for a 12 month license, they give me 15 months worth.

My Outlook is set up as POP/SMTP. Is the Earthlink one set up the same way?

Dave in Houston said:

Onedrive is handy, unless it keeps me from running old-style Outlook with a PST file.

I get Outlook by going to Costco once every 15 months. If I pay for a 12 month license, they give me 15 months worth.

My Outlook is set up as POP/SMTP. Is the Earthlink one set up the same way?

Click to expand...

Private domains (like Earthlink) are setup differently to an Outlook email address.
Outlook email addresses are generally IMAP, you want to use POP3 for your Eatrthlink address due to the PST file.

If you might recall, we had to setup POP details like incoming and outgoing information, and direct Outlook to always use your proffered PST file. They’re the settings I believe I stored, less the passwords.

BTW, in my outlook Account Info, it just says (my email)at earthlink.net, then POP/SMTP

antspants said:

Private domains (like Earthlink) are setup differently to an Outlook email address.
Outlook email addresses are generally IMAP, you want to use POP3 for your address due to the PST file.

If you might recall, we had to setup POP details like incoming and outgoing information, and direct Outlook to always use your proffered PST file. They’re the settings I believe I stored, less the passwords.

Click to expand...

I do remember the many hoops we jumped through to get it set up that way.

I need to sleep now. I'll check back after church, around noon Texas time.

Thanks again to everyone who pitched in.

Just as a refresher, these were my original instructions to you, then at some stage, I eventually had to connect via Microsoft Quick Assist.

Skip the cleanup instructions.



Sleep well, Dave.

Remember, not everything in that post is now relevent, but it does show the correct settings. PM me tomorrow if you need to.

antspants said:

Remember when I connected remotely and we setup Outlook?
Outlook (PST) files are kept in Documents\Outlook Files\
If you want to continue to use OneDrive, I can connect again at some point and help you move the location of your PST files (if you are still using them)
Mine live on a secondary drive.

Click to expand...

You are correct. I also believe his email quit working due to the fact that when he chose to backup to onedrive, the folder path where his Outlook data file changed so the path would need to be changed in Outlook settings UNLESS he chooses to disable backup and sync and move his files back to his default C:\users folder.

If he chooses to get rid of onedrive I have listed the steps below. Keep in mind that all the other apps in the Office365 suite automatically save to Onedrive. The SAVE path in both Word and Excel settings would need to be changed to as per this screenshot to make his computer be the default save location. Autosave works ONLY in files saved to the cloud. Autosave does not work when files are saved to his PC.
Definitely backup before diddling with this.




Proper sequence of events to get rid of ONEDRIVE

1. You first have to turn off backup folder syncing. This tutorial tells you how and also how to get your files onto your local drive.
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-onedrive-folder-backup-syncing-across-windows-11-devices.4321/

NOTE: ONLY IF FOLDERS DO NOT MOVE TO DEFAULT LOCATION IN STEP 1 ABOVE DO THIS

If this happens, then you could try option three in the tutorials below to restore the default folder location and move your files manually from Onedrive into the folders..

• Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11
• Move or Restore Default Location of Documents Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial
• Move or Restore Default Location of Pictures Folder in Windows 11
• Move or Restore Default Location of Videos Folder in Windows 11

2. Then you have to unlink account & PC from onedrive.
Unlink Account and PC from OneDrive in Windows 11

Once you do this the files you have in onedrive will remain there until you login to Onedrive on the Web and delete them.
Microsoft OneDrive

3. You can then either uninstall Onedrive or disable it. I prefer to disable it. Open Task Manager>Startup Apps
Find Onedrive in the list and, right click on it, select disable. This prevents Onedrive from auto-starting.

4. If you want to uninstall it instead, the best way is to use Revo Uninstaller Freeware Portable. You’ll find Onedrive under the Windows Apps section. Be sure to scan for and delete any leftover files and registry entries Revo finds. Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download

5. You can also use option 1 in this tutorial to uninstall it. It will leave a few registry entries behind though. Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive in Windows 11

Anything else you need just holler.

Dave in Houston said:

The problem is that I can't receive or send new email. Old email is still there to view, and the calendar still works.

Click to expand...

Because you still have your old emails and calendar then that means that Outlook can access your data files. I think that the activation of OneDrive and your mail problems are probably a coincidence.

You said that you can't send or receive new messages, so what are the symptoms? If you get any error messages when trying then you need to post them here in full. If the errors contain personal details then redact them first.

If you don't get any errors and simply nothing happens then restart your computer properly by choosing RESTART from the power options.

glasskuter said:

You are correct. I also believe his email quit working due to the fact that when he chose to backup to onedrive, the folder path where his Outlook data file changed so the path

Click to expand...

Although I was actually looking at some of Davids stuff and came across this, it looks like it was already situated in the OneDrive path. If the path had changed, Outlook would show a particular message, cannot find Outlook data file or something.